History, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts.

J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Remember the small controversy in Philadelphia over whether tour guides operating in the historic district needed to pass a test of knowledge before they could earn licenses? This week the city agreed not to put that new rule into effect for six months while a judge consider the free-speech lawsuit from three guides. Plus, as the city acknowledged to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “neither the written examination for tour guides nor a review of a scoring process had been finalized.”

And we had the car checked out after I was rear-ended last week. (I was fine, though irked. Irked, I say.) The auto has only cosmetic damage—a small hole in the rear bumper. So all we might need is an appropriate seal. This one’s from Progressive Bumper Stickers. Any others out there?

Yes, Robert S. Paul, "liberal" has a wide range of meanings. In Germany and Japan, the Liberal Democrats are right of center. In Britain, the Liberal Party's successor is left of center but not as left as Labour has been. That's one reason I usually avoid the "liberal" label; it's not specific enough.